A wild horse in Corolla had to be euthanized after he was hit by a car along the beach on Friday.
According to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, they received a 911 call at 11:30 p.m. stating a horse was standing on the beach when it was struck by a vehicle.
The horse hit was a 10-year-old stallion named Bullwinkle, and had several major injuries according to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Those injuries included:
- Significant skin trauma over the right side and back.
- Broken right hind leg with fracture of the lower femur.
- Left hind trauma and lateral destabilization of the hock with collateral ligament injuries, allowing the leg to bow outwards.
- Pendulous abdomen when standing and once euthanized fluid-filled abdomen confirmed with a fluid wave of manipulation, likely due to significant internal trauma and blood within the abdomen.
The injuries were too severe to save Bullwinkle, and he was humanely euthanized on Saturday morning by the organization’s veterinarian.
“He was in the prime of his life, and went from being a symbol of what it means to be wild and free to a tragic example of how irresponsible, reckless human behavior can cause pain, suffering, and irreparable damage to the herd in an instant,” the organization said on it’s Facebook page.
The driver that hit Bullwinkle was arrested, according to the organization.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.